Publication year
2017
Citation Title
Boys are victims too? Sexual dating violence and injury among high-risk youth.
Journal Name
Preventative Medicine
Journal Volume
101
Page Numbers
28-33
DOI
10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.05.018
Summary
Boys and girls who have been exposed to violence in childhood may be the perpetrators or victims of teen dating violence. Using data collected from the surveys of adolescents in high-risk communities, this study examined whether poly-victimization (exposure to multiple forms of violence) was associated with sex differences in teen dating violence. Results suggest that although boys from high-risk communities may perpetrate teen dating violence more than girls, they are just as likely to be victimized.
Key Findings
Sex differences in teen dating violence perpetration were present among adolescents with high rates of poly-victimization, with boys reporting more perpetration.
Younger adolescents ages 11 through 14 who experienced poly-victimization were at a greater risk for sexual teen dating violence and perpetration.
Adolescents ages 11 through 18 were more likely to be a victim of teen dating violence if they were exposed to multiple forms of violence.
Implications for Military Professionals
Collaborate with organizations that service military families attend or are familiar with (e.g., schools) to increase awareness and prevention efforts regarding teen dating violence
Facilitate support groups for the adolescent children of Service members who have been victims of violence, including teen dating violence
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide education to military families regarding the risk of their adolescent being exposed to teen dating violence if their adolescent experienced poly-victimization
Disseminate information regarding the association between an adolescent violent victimization and teen dating violence and where families can find help
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support policies that address the unique challenges the families of Service members face in high-risk communities, including teen dating violence
Recommend professional education regarding poly-victimization and teen dating violence in high-risk communities for professionals who work with Service members and their families
Methods
Data were collected from the completed surveys of adolescent students in grades seven through twelve. All students under 18 required parental permission.
The survey included questions regarding demographics, exposure to violence, sexual perpetration and victimization, and injury perpetration and victimization.
Poly-victimization (i.e., multiple victimizations) was measured by the exposure to four types of violence: community, interpersonal, physical child abuse, and sexual.
Researchers analyzed how poly-victimization and age were associated with sex differences in the perpetration or victimization of teen dating violence.
Participants
Participants were 2,577 (52% female and 48% male) adolescents enrolled at public schools in high-risk areas.
Participant ages were between 11-18 years and most participants were racial or ethnic minorities (43% Latino, 25% White, 22% Black, and 11% other).
Students were sampled from communities that ranked in the top ten U.S. cities for serious crime.
All participants reported a dating history in the preceding 12 months.
Limitations
The data is cross-sectional and therefore the direction of effects cannot be determined.
The polyvictimization measure did not assess frequency of victimization. Students who were exposed to repeated forms of violence may be more affected than those who experienced a single incident.
The data were collected via self-report and results may include self-report bias.
Data were collected over ten years ago and may not be generalizable to current students in high-risk areas.
Avenues for Future Research
Conduct a study using more recent data to increase generalizability since cultural influences and motives for teen dating violence may shift over time
Assess for number of victimizations (i.e., single incident or repeated experiences) to assess for differences based on frequency of exposure
Conduct a study that compares data of those collected from students in high-risk areas with students in low-risk areas
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
Objective: Prior research with youth exposed to violence suggests that, in this high-risk population, boys may be victims of sexual teen dating violence (TDV) and injury as frequently as girls. We sought to replicate these findings with a demographically similar sample and to determine whether the findings could be attributed the high-risk nature of the sample by assessing the impact of violence exposure on sex differences. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 2577 youth (ages 11–18, M = 15.4, SD = 1.9, 52% female, 25% Caucasian) collected in 2004 from a high-risk community reported on history of dating and exposure to multiple forms of violence. We conducted moderation analyses to test whether polyvictimization (PV) and age moderated the potential sex differences in perpetration and victimization of sexual TDV and injury. Results:
No significant sex differences in victimization were observed regardless of degree of PV. Boys reported more frequent sexual TDV and injury perpetration relative to girls, but only for youth reporting high degree of PV. There were no sex differences in perpetration among low PV youth.
Conclusions
These findings suggest boys from high-risk communities may disproportionately perpetrate severe acts of TDV but at this early age they are equally likely to be victimized. To interrupt the cycle of violence victimization and perpetration, comprehensive violence prevention interventions targeting high-risk youth should be implemented at schools, in homes, and in the community; and they should recognize the potential for girls and boys to be victims of even the most severe forms of TDV.
No significant sex differences in victimization were observed regardless of degree of PV. Boys reported more frequent sexual TDV and injury perpetration relative to girls, but only for youth reporting high degree of PV. There were no sex differences in perpetration among low PV youth.
Conclusions
These findings suggest boys from high-risk communities may disproportionately perpetrate severe acts of TDV but at this early age they are equally likely to be victimized. To interrupt the cycle of violence victimization and perpetration, comprehensive violence prevention interventions targeting high-risk youth should be implemented at schools, in homes, and in the community; and they should recognize the potential for girls and boys to be victims of even the most severe forms of TDV.
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